Collapsible umbrella



Oct. 16, 1951 E. e. VON GUNTEN 2,571,634

COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA Filed April 9, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. [7211/19/90 51/0 @m/rav Oct 1951 E. G. VON GUN'TEN COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 9, 1946 Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED'STATES ATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA Edward G. Von Gunten, Akron, Ohio Application April 9, 1946, Serial No. 660,741

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new and improved umbrella. More particularly, it relates to a collapsible umbrella which incorporates various novel features of construction which will be more fully explained in what follows.

The novel features include a telescoping stem of improved design, simplified means for hinging the ribs-and spreaders about the stem, telescoping ribs of improved design, simplified means for retaining the ribs when the umbrella is collapsed and folded, an improved cover, and an improved spring catch for holding the umbrella open.

The metal parts of the umbrella are preferably constructed of light-weight metal, such as aluminum alloy, etc. Many of the prior-art umbrellas, constructed of heavier materials, have been too clumsy and have weighed too much to meet the demand.

Umbrella covers are generally of a neutral color. If the color is not neutral, the wearer must have different umbrellas of difierent colors to carry with different outfits. The umbrella of this invention is provided with readily removable and replaceable covers so that for the cost of one umbrella framework and several differently colored covers, the equivalent of several of the prior-art umbrellas is provided.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of the umbrella in the extended position, the dotted lines indicating how the cover may be removed;

Fig. 2 is a view of a rib in the extended position showing a portion of the cover exploded from the grommet snap at the end of the rib;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the rib-holding assembly;

Fig. 4 is an inverted view of the assembly;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the middle of the assembly;

a Fig. .6 shows the umbrella stem handle in the extended position;

7 Fig. 6a is an enlarged detail showing the two parts of the umbrella stem handle illustrated in Fig. 6;

. Fig, 7 is an end view showing the umbrella with the stem and ribs collapsed and the ends of the ribs held in the handle, but without the .cover being gathered together;

Fig. 8' is a detail of the framework showing the means for locking the spreaders to hold the ribs in the extended position;

Fig. 9 shows a portion of the cover after the same hasbeen cut to shape but not sewed;

Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically how the parts of the cover are brought together at the seam before folding;

Fig. 11 is a portion of the completed cover;

Fig. 12 is a section through the grommet in the hem of the completed cover; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the umbrella collapsed with the cover rolled around it ready for encasing in a sheath.

The umbrella is formed of the cover I, the telescoping handle or stem 2, the telescoping ribs 3, and spreaders 4. In the collapsed and folded condition, the various parts can be encased in a holder not more than 10 to 12 inches long and an inch or slightly more in diameter; To open the umbrella, the stem handle 2 is extended, the ribs are extended, and the spreaders are raised in the usual manner. To extend the ribs, it is only necessary to invert the umbrella; i. e., to turn it with the bottom or cover I up and possibly shake it somewhat to fully extend the ribs and then raise the top. By raising the top, the ribs are held in the extended position.

As best shown in Fig. 2, each rib 3 is composed of (1) an outer tubular member 1 which is per- .manently fastened at one end about the top of the stem or handle and (2) a flexible rod 8 of smaller diameter which is adapted to slide within the member I. The tube 1 is narrow at the outer end 9; and the ferrule In, which is of The outer end of the rod 8 is weighted with the weight I3 which includes the grommet snap M, the purpose of which will be explained in what follows. As the umbrella is being opened, it is held with the handle down, and the weights 1% aid materially in causing the rods 8 to slide out of the tubular members 1. If it is necessary, the umbrella may be shaken a little to cause the inner members 8 of the ribs to be extended at length from the tubular members I. They may be manually extended if necessary.

The shape of the cover I may be the same shape as the usual umbrella cover and, in any event, does not differ greatly therefrom. When the inner members 8 of the ribs are extended, and the possessor of the umbrella starts to raise it, the tension of the outer edge of the cover fastened to the grommet snaps 14 produces a cantilever action, raising the inner end of each of the rods 8 within its tubular member 1, thereby causing the ferrules II] to become locked in the slots l2. The ribs cannot thereafter be telescoped until the umbrella has been taken down and the tension of the cover on the ends of the rods has been relaxed. It will be understood that the rods 8 are flexible and, to some extent, conform to the shape of the inner surface of the cover, but the tension of the cover on the outer ends producing the cantilever action is essential to the locking of the ferrules in the slots l2, and this is an important feature of the invention.

The spreaders 4 are fastened to the tubular members 1 of the ribs in the usual way by means of lugs l8 pressed to the tubular members as at 19 (Fig. 2). There is nothing novel about the operation of the spreaders and their coaction with the ribs. The spring catch 20 (Fig. 8) fits over the collar assembly '23 which holds the inner or bottom ends of the Spreaders by means of the hook portion 24. The portion of the catch 20 which extends beyond the hook 24 is provided with a supplementary hook 25. When the umbrella is being raised, it is advantageous to first only partially raise the top and seat the assembly 23 in the hook 25. In this position, there is no tension on the inner rib members -8, and any of these members which is not locked by seating its ferrule [0 in the slot [2 should be manually extended to the locked position. The umbrella is then further raised so that the assembly 23 becomes seated in the hook 24.

The top of the hook portion 24 conforms to the T top of the assembly 23 so that this book not only prevents the assembly from lowering along the stem when engaged by the hook but also prevents a high wind from raising the assembly 23 along the stem. This is a novel feature of the invention since it prevents the umbrella top from flattening out in a high wind as well as holding the top in the usual position when the umbrella is raised.

The inner ends of the spreaders and ribs, respectively, are held in the similarly constructed collar assemblies 23 and (Fig. 8). The assembly 39 is exploded in Fig. 3 and is further illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. It is formed of the collar 4 in which the annular depression 32 is provided adjacent the encircling wall 33. A hole 35 is provided in the inner end of each of the ribs 3, and the ring 36 is threaded through these holes. In the process of assembling the collar, the ring 35 with the ribs 3 threaded on it is seated in the depression 32 in the collar, and the top edge of the wall 33 is peened so as to retain the ring in the seated position. The ribs fit into the uniformly spaced openings 31, each of which is wide enough to permit the rib which it holds to move easily in it as it swivels around the ring threaded through its end.

The assembled collar .30 is fastened to the top of the stem handle 2 by .a force fit or any other desirable means. The top of the stem is provided with the grommet snap 40 (Fig. 3), the purpose of which will be explained in what follows,

The assembly 23 which holds the inner ends of the spreader arms is similarly constructed, the arms being threaded on a similar ring which is countersunk in a similar manner in the bottom 4 of the collar of the assembly, the chief difference between the two assemblies being that the slots 31 in the collar 33 must extend a greater distance toward the axis of the collar to permit the ribs to be collapsed against the stem, whereas this is not necessary in the collar 23 because the spreader arms always rise upwardly from the collar and are never collapsed down against the stem.

The stem handle 2 is composed of an outer tubular member in which the inner tubular member 46 telescopes. The circumferential slots 41 in the outer end of the larger tubular member 45 are adapted to receive the hook 48 which extends out of the inner end of the inner member 46. They encompass the whole circumference of the outer member 45 and overlap to some extent so that regardless of where the hook 48 is when the inner member is withdrawn from the outer member, it will catch in one of the slots 41.

The hook 48 is at the end of the spring 50 which is located in the inner member. The end opposite the hook 48 is bent back on itself at 5| to spring it in position inside of the member 46 where it is held by any suitable means. The bent portion 52 which protrudes through the opening 53 in the member 46 controls the position of the hook 50 and makes it possible for the wearer to easily disengage it from any slot 41 in which it may beengaged.

Thus, the telescoping stem handle operates in this manner: In the extended position the hook 48 is engaged in one of the slots 41. When it is desired to telescope the handle, pressure is applied to the protruding portion 52, and this releases the hook from engagement with the slot. The upper member 45 is then telescoped down around the inner member 46. In sliding over the member 46, the member 45 pushes the protrudpor tion 52 of the spring into the member 46 and slides .down over the member .46 until it approaches the knob 50. Conversely, when the umbrella is to be raised, a person opening the umbrella grasps the knob 50 with one hand and places the fingers of his other hand on the outer member 45 and slides the member 45 outwardly over the member 46. When it reaches .the ex tended position, the hook 48 engages one of the slots 41, and this maintains the stem in the extended position until pressure is applied .to the protruding portion 52 of the spring and the umbrella is lowered.

The knob 69 is .cup shaped and serves both as a handle and as a retainer for-the weighted ends of the rod portions 8 .of the ribs when the umbrella is folded. As shown in Figs. 7 and 13, the grommet snaps .on the weights t3 fit within the rim .of the .cup when the umbrella is confined to the smallest volume.

There are several novel features of the .cover I. In the first place, .it is removable. The grommet $5 in the middle of the topuof the umbrella fits over the grommet snap 49 (Fig. v3) but is easily removed when one cover is replaced by .another. The ends of the ribs are provided with the grommet snaps 14 which fasten into the grommets 66 around the outer edge of the umbrella. when it is desired to replace .a :cover, the ribs are .001- lapsed so that the grommets of one cover may be easily removed from these snaps and the grommets of another cover snapped onto them. Thus, the cover of the umbrella may be .easily removed and replaced by either .a new .cover or a cover .of different .color .or design, as may suit the taste of the owner-from time to time.

The cover is advantageously constructed of a single .sheet of fabric. This is advantageously light-weight material, such as silk or reinforced plastic or the like. An unreinforced plastic sheet may be used to make .a transparent top.

The top is shaped :by cutting ll-shaped openlugs 68 (Fig. 9) into the fiat sheet and sewing the edges of the openings together. The edges are advantageously curved to give the outer edge of the cover a desired concave shape.

In a preferred form of the invention, instead of cutting away all of the material bounded by the V-shaped sides of a notch, the outer edges of the two sides of the V are allowed to protrude inwardly. This permits reinforcement at the 'edge of the cover at the points where the grommets are provided. Fig. 9 shows inwardly protruding tabs 19 and H formed in this manner in the fiat sheet. Fig. illustrates more or less diagrammatically how these tabs are overlapped and the hem is formed and where the grommets are to be located. When the two sides of the V-shaped openings 68 are sewed together, the sewing is continued across the inner ends of the tabs 10 and H. The line of sewing I3 is shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12. Fig. 10 shows how the two tabs are then overlapped. The tab 10 is folded back on itself and overlaps the tab H which is also folded back on itself. The tabs thus provide three thicknesses of fabric, and the covering portion of the fabric provides another thickness. Thus, four thicknesses of fabric are provided at the tabs. The cover is then hemmed by folding on the dotted line 14 (Figs. 9 and 10) The number of thicknesses of fabric is thus doubled to eight. The grommets are then inserted. Fig. 10 shows in dotted lines how each grommet is positioned adjacent a seam 13 (there not being two grommets as Fig. 10 might first be thought to indicate, but a single grommet, the fabric being folded on itself so that the two dotted representations of a grommet coincide).

Fig. 12 shows the various overlapping layers of fabric on the two sides of the grommet. The bottom layer of fabric is the uncut portion indicated by the reference numeral I. When the hem is formed, this uncut portion forms both the top and bottom layers of the hem. Adjacent this on one side of the sewing is the portion 10a of the one tab, and when the hem is formed, this portion is duplicated on the opposite side of the plied fabric. On the other side of the grommet is the portion Ha adjacent the plies l. The next ply of fabric is the ply H b which extends outwardly from both sides of the grommet. At the middle of the plied fabric is the portion lllb of which there are two plies. Thus, with the preferred tab arrangement there are eight plies of fabric at the grommet although in the hem between the openings 68 there are only two plies. By overlapping in a different manner, a larger or smaller number of plies may be provided, as desired.

Thus, the various novel features of the umbrella combine to form a thoroughly marketable,

light-weight assembly with great popular appeal which may be economically made and is very serviceable. Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

An umbrella which includes a stem; a cover formed from a single piece of fabric the center area of which fabric is flat and uncut and sur=- rounded by notches adapted to form a downwardly curved edge area when the umbrella is raised; ribs for supporting the cover each of which is pivotally fastened to the stem and consists of a hollow member adjacent the stem and a flexible rod telescopically slidable into the outer end of the hollow member which when the umbrella is raised is bent downwardly and conforms to the downwardly curved edge area of the cover, the edge of the cover being fastened to the outer end of each flexible rod, spreaders attached at one end to the respective hollow members and adapted to swing the ribs away from the stem and thus tension the cover and bend the rods downwardly when the rods are extended from the hollow members, and means slidable on the stem to which the other end of each spreader is attached for locking the spreaders to support the hollow member of each rib substantially perpendicular to the stem, and means at the outer end of each hollow member adapted to engage complementary means on the enclosed end of the rod located therein to lock the rod in extended position when the rod is pressed downwardly by the edge area of the cover.

EDWARD G. VON GUNTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 182,149 Barnes Sept. 12, 1876 814,884 Stettner Mar. 13, 1906 864,945 Bigelow Sept. 3, 1907 881,825 Petersen Mar. 10, 1908 915,958 Henning Mar. 23, 1909 1,044,823 Schlafke Nov. 19, 1912 1,071,762 Long Sept. 2, 1913 1,304,016 Bott May 20, 1919 1,693,536 Woodley Nov. 27, 1928 2,157,335 Haupt May 9, 1939 2,171,476 Katz Aug. 29, 1939 2,187,372 Capaldo Jan. 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 696 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1906 128,093 Switzerland -1 Oct. 1., 1928 

